Wishaw war veterans unhappy after Union Flag is stolen from ex servicemen's club

Ex servicemen's club members are angry at the flag being stolen (Image: Tom Dick/Wishaw Press)

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Proud Wishaw war veterans have hit out at the thieves who stole the Union Flag from outside the town’s ex servicemen’s club.

Members were shocked to discover that the flag, which flies outside the club in Main Street, had been stolen between 10pm on Monday, September 7, and the following morning.

Club president Kenny Simpson served his country for over seven years all over the world.

He said: “These people can only be described as morons.

“I can only assume that they used a ladder to climb up and take the flag. Our club has been going since 1926 and down the years our members have served in both World Wars, Korea, Northern Ireland and The Gulf.

“We also raise a lot of money for various charities including Erskine, the Earl Haig Fund, Barnardo’s and many others.

“When this type of thing it is just very disappointing for all of us.”

The theft of the flag comes in the wake of an incident last year when the flag at the club was burned by yobs.

Club treasurer May Carlyle said: “The club closed at 10pm on Monday night and when we came back on Tuesday morning the flag was gone.

“I am absolutely disgusted. This is an ex-servicemen’s club and we have over 300 members and they can’t believe it.

“I don’t know why anyone would stoop to this level.”

Motherwell and Wishaw MSP John Pentland expressed his sadness at the flag theft.

He added: “Obviously those responsible are showing no respect whatsoever to the gallant ex-servicemen who use the club, and indeed, their former colleagues who gave their lives so that we can enjoy the freedoms we have today as a democratic nation in control of its own destiny.

“I’m sure the overwhelming majority of my constituents in Motherwell and Wishaw will find it hard to understand why anyone would do this, and will abhor and condemn it as an infantile and cowardly act.”